UN Voluntary Fund for Victims of Torture: UK Contribution

Lord Lester of Herne Hill: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What is the amount of the United Kingdom's contribution to the United Nations' Voluntary Fund for Victims of Torture; and how does the rate of contribution compare with contributions made by other comparable countries.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: The United Kingdom's contribution to the United Nations' Voluntary Fund for Victims of Torture was £130,000 in 1999. The UK's contribution was the second largest in 1999. The UK's contribution in 1998 (£130,000) was the third largest.

Select Committee on Human Rights: Legal Adviser

Lord Archer of Sandwell: asked the Chairman of Committees:
	Further to his Answers of 17 February (WA 161), whether a Legal Adviser to the proposed Joint Select Committee on Human Rights has been appointed.

Lord Boston of Faversham: Yes. Professor David Feldman, currently Barber Professor of Jurisprudence and Dean of the Faculty of Law at the University of Birmingham, has been appointed with effect from 1 September 2000. If a committee is appointed before that date, Professor Feldman will be available to assist it on an ad hoc basis.

Job Applicants: Sexual Orientation

Lord Avebury: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What are their views on the growing practice by employers of asking for details on job applicants' sexual orientation; whether they will make it clear that employers should not discriminate against a job applicant who declines to give this information; and whether they have taken advice on the compatibility of this practice with Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights.

Baroness Blackstone: The Government encourage employers to ensure that they do not discriminate in their recruitment processes. I understand that some employers may consider it appropriate to monitor applications with a view to ensuring that discrimination does not take place in their recruitment procedures. Some job applicants will feel, however, that their sexual orientation is not something a prospective employer need be aware of, and no employer should discriminate against applicants who choose not to declare their sexual orientation for whatever reason.
	Individual employers should seek legal advice on whether this practice complies with the Human Rights Act and other laws.

Spoliation Advisory Panel

Baroness Anelay of St Johns: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	When they intend to publish the names of those who have been appointed to the Spoliation Advisory Panel; and whether the members represent organisations or have been appointed in an independent capacity.

Lord McIntosh of Haringey: My right honourable friend the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport expects to announce details of the membership of the panel within a very few weeks. Members will not be representing interested organistations but will be appointed in an independent capacity, with expertise and experience relevant to the work of the panel.

"Family": Definition for Tax Purposes

Lord Tebbit: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they will publish the definition of "family" used by the Inland Revenue.

Lord McIntosh of Haringey: There is no statutory definition of family in the Taxes Acts.
	For the purpose of Working Families' and Disabled Person's Tax Credit, family is defined as a married or unmarried couple responsible for a child, or a young person in non-advanced education, who is a member of the same household for whom at least one of them is responsible, or as a lone parent who is responsible for such a child or young person.

Army Cadet Force

Lord Renton: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What is the present strength of the Army Cadet Force in the United Kingdom; in which three counties it is strongest; and in which three counties it is weakest.

Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean: The latest available statistics give the total strength of the Army Cadet Forces as 42,550. The three Army Cadet Force contingents that are strongest numerically are:
	
		
			   
			 Humberside and South Yorkshire 17,079 
			 Yorkshire North and West 14,016 
			 Leicestershire and Northamptonshire 13,051 
		
	
	The three Army Cadet Force contingents that are weakest numerically, excluding the Isle of Man, the Orkneys and the Shetlands, are:
	
		
			   
			 Gwynedd 362 
			 Bedfordshire 362 
			 Powys 436 
			 
		
	
	These statistics are as at 31 December 1999; this is the latest date for which the statistics are available.

Military Support for Relief Work

Lord Judd: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What arrangements they are putting in place to ensure rapid and effective contributions by the Armed Services to relief work in humanitarian emergencies wherever they occur.

Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean: There are well-established procedures between the Department for International Development and the Ministry of Defence for calling on military support for relief work in overseas humanitarian emergencies. These procedures are reviewed as a matter of routine following every operation.

Services Cotswold Centre

Baroness Park of Monmouth: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether the Services Cotswold Centre is to close; if so, (a) how they propose to provide in one place the services for families suffering marital breakdown or other turbulence--for example, a creche, counselling and a small school for stressed children, as well as accommodation; and (b) what saving the closure represents; and whether the money is being ring-fenced for family welfare.

Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean: Her Majesty's Government reaffirm their high regard for the work of the Services Cotswold Centre on behalf of Army families. The Centre is, however, under-utilised and a working group has recently been set up to explore alternative means of providing the service and to identify a solution that offers better value for money. The centre will not be closed until an appropriate alternative solution is in place. I shall write further to the noble Baroness when the position is clearer and a copy of the letter will be placed in the Library of the House.

War Widows' Pensions

Lord Mackay of Ardbrecknish: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How many Ministry of Defence widows under the age of 60 are in receipt of both a Forces Family Pension and an attributable Forces Family Pension.

Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean: There are no widows in receipt of both a Forces Family Pension and an attributable Forces Family Pension. A widow may receive either a Forces Family Pension or an attributable Forces Family Pension from the Armed Forces Pension Scheme, but not both. A widow of a serviceman who dies for reasons attributable to service may receive a family pension from the AFPS and a War Widow's Pension from the DSS War Pension Scheme.

Armed Forces' Meat Supplies

Lord Willoughby de Broke: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they will require the Ministry of Defence to buy British chicken, lamb, beef and pigmeat; and, if not, why not.

Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean: The supply of food to our Armed Forces is contracted out to "3663". The MoD does not specify the source from which our contractor should obtain meat (or any other products) but expects them to seek the best market price, consistent with meeting our quality standards; indeed to do otherwise would contravene European law. I am as keen, however, on seeing our servicemen and women eating British products as I am for our contractor to secure the best value for money. Accordingly, our contractor is required specifically to give full consideration to British products, which we look to them to buy wherever they are competitive. Currently all beef for consumption by our UK-based service personnel is British. In addition, 100 per cent of our pork; some 50 per cent of our bacon and gammon; and 30 per cent of our chicken is being sourced in the UK.

Northern Ireland: Smoking-related Deaths

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How many deaths due to smoking related causes occurred in Northern Ireland in each of the last 10 years.

Baroness Farrington of Ribbleton: The number of deaths due to smoking related causes for each year from 1989 up to 1998, the latest year for which such information is available, is as follows:
	
		
			  Number 
			 1989 1,972 
			 1990 1,883 
			 1991 1,873 
			 1992 1,896 
			 1993 1,931 
			 1994 1,891 
			 1995 1,843 
			 1996 1,855 
			 1997 1,824 
			 1998 1,778

Northern Ireland: Public Transport Expenditure

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by Baroness Farrington of Ribbleton on 8 March (WA 153-154), what is their explanation for the considerably lower level of expenditure in Northern Ireland on public transport per head of population; and what plans they have to bring spending up to the same level as the rest of the United Kingdom.

Baroness Farrington of Ribbleton: Public expenditure priorities in Great Britain and Northern Ireland have been different. Spending on transport has been afforded a lower relative priority in Northern Ireland. The future level of funding for public transport will be considered as part of the 2000 Spending Review.

Northern Ireland: Public Transport Expenditure

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by Baroness Farrington of Ribbleton on 8th March (WA 154), what form of rapid transport they considered from the northern part of County Down to the centre of Belfast; whether it included the use of an Express-way; and if so, why the idea has been abandoned.

Baroness Farrington of Ribbleton: As part of a study commissioned by the Northern Ireland Transport Holding Company on transportation options on the Belfast to Newtownards Corridor, a full range of possible transport options was examined. Arising out of this study, the preferred technical option for a modern transit route to link Dundonald and Knock with the centre of Belfast is a new concept known as EWAY. The type of transit system proposed, described as a train on rubber wheels, claims to offer the best features of rail and bus by combining the freedom from congestion of rail with the more realistic cost and greater flexibility of the bus. At this point in time there are no plans to proceed with EWAY, given the current financial resources available for public transport in Northern Ireland.

Local Election Pilot Schemes

Baroness Howells of St Davids: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What pilot schemes of innovative electoral procedures they have approved for the May local elections.

Lord Bassam of Brighton: My honourable friend the Under-Secretary of State at the Home Office, Mr O' Brien, is making orders to enable the following pilot schemes to take place at this May's local elections:
	
		
			  Scheme 
			 Amber Valley Extension of entitlement to  postal vote 
			 Blackburn with Darwen Early voting 
			 Blackpool Early voting 
			 Bolton All postal ballot 
			 Broxbourne Electronic counting 
			 Chester Early voting 
			 Coventry Early voting 
			 Doncaster All postal ballot 
			 Eastleigh Extension of entitlement to  postal vote 
			 Gateshead All postal ballot 
			 Gloucester Extension of entitlement to  postal vote 
			 Kingston upon Hull Early voting 
			 Knowsley Early voting 
			 Leeds Extended hours of poll 
			 Manchester Early voting 
			 Milton Keynes Extension of entitlement to  postal vote 
			 Mole Valley Extended hours of poll 
			 Plymouth Early voting 
			 Redditch Early voting 
			 St Helens Early voting 
			 Stevenage All postal ballot 
			 Stoke-on-Trent Early voting 
			 Sunderland Early voting and mobile voting 
			 Swindon All postal ballot 
			 Wigan All postal ballot 
			 Windsor and Maidenhead Mobile early voting facility. 
		
	
	In addition, he hopes to be able to make orders in relation to the following schemes very shortly:
	
		
			  Scheme 
			 Bury Electronic voting and counting 
			 Norwich 
			  All postal ballot, mobile polling  facility and early voting 
			 Salford Electronic voting and counting 
			 Stratford Electronic voting and counting 
			 Three Rivers Electronic counting 
			 Watford 
			  Mobile polling facility, early 
			 voting, weekend voting and 
			 freepost facility.

Law Commission Recommendations

Lord Goodhart: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How many Law Commission recommendations for legislative reform they have caused to be enacted so far this Parliament.

Lord Irvine of Lairg: Three Law Commission Reports have been enacted during this Parliament. They are:
	Report No. 220, The Law of Trusts: Delegation by Individual Trustees, which was enacted by the Trustee Delegation Act 1999;
	Report No. 242, Privity of Contract: Contracts for the Benefit of Third Parties, which was enacted by the Contracts (Rights of Third Parties) Act 1999; and
	Report No. 252, Statute Law Revision: Sixteenth Report, which was enacted by the Statute Law (Repeals) Act 1998.

Law Commission Recommendations

Lord Goodhart: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How many Law Commission reports recommending legislative reform which have been accepted in whole or in part are awaiting enactment.

Lord Irvine of Lairg: There are currently seven Law Commission reports that have been accepted in whole or in part that are awaiting enactment. A list is provided below. Of these, Law Commission Report 260, Trustees' Powers and Duties, is currently before Parliament.
	
		Law Commission Reports Accepted in Whole or in Part but awaiting Enactment
		
			 Year No. Report 
			 1993 218 Legislating the Criminal Code: Offences against the  Person and General Principles 
			 1995 231 Mental Incapacity 
			 1997 245 Evidence in Criminal Proceedings: Hearsay and  Related Topics 
			 1997 247 Aggravated, Exemplary and Restitutionary  Damages 
			 1998 253 The Execution of Deeds and Documents by or on  behalf of Bodies Corporate 
			 1998 255 Consents to Prosecution 
			 1999 260 Trustees' Powers and Duties

Law Commission Recommendations

Lord Goodhart: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What is the median period between (a) the publication of a Law Commission report containing recommendations for legislative reform; (b) the Government's acceptance or rejection of its recommendations for legislative reform; and (c) the enactment of those accepted legislative reforms.

Lord Irvine of Lairg: The department does not keep statistics on the median times requested. However, Appendix C to the Law Commission's Thirty-Third Annual Report, 1998, lists the Law Commission reports awaiting implementation at that time. Of this list, five reports have been accepted in full, or in part, by the Government. The median time between the completion of each of these five reports and their acceptance is two years.
	The enactment of Law Commission Bills, once accepted by the Government, is subject to the availability of parliamentary time.

NHS Additional Funding, by Region

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How much additional funding has been made available to the health service in England and Wales since 1 May 1997; and under what headings; and how much funding was supplied to the health service in Scotland and Northern Ireland for the same period, under the same headings.

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: The following tables show the additional funding that has been made available to the National Health Service from Her Majesty's Treasury since 1 May 1997 in (a) England, (b) Wales, (c) Scotland and (d) Northern Ireland. Figures for Northern Ireland also include additions resulting from a reallocation of funds within the Northern Ireland block. All tables show additions to the nearest £ million.
	
		Table A Additional Funds made available to the NHS in England since 1 May 1997
		
			  1997-98 1998-99 1999-2000 2000-01 2001-02 
			  £m £m £m £m £m 
			 Winter Pressures(1) 269 209 
			 General Increase for NHS(2)  1,000 
			 Waiting Lists(3)  417 
			 Comprehensive Spending Review(4)   3,059 5,960 8,816 
			 HM Treasury Capital Modernisation Fund(5)   114 122 158 
			 Invest to Save Budget(6)   3 4 3 
			 Clinical Negligence and Generic Drugs(7)   134 
		
	
	(1) Additional money for (i) 1997-98 announced in October 1997 (ii) 1998-99 announced in November 1998.
	(2) Announced in July 1997 Budget.
	(3) Announced in March 1998 Budget.
	(4) Announced in July 1998. Increase in NHS funding each year over the 1998-99 baseline.
	(5) Additions in the first bidding round from the Treasury Capital Modernisation Fund. Funds awarded for A&E Modernisation, action on cataracts and faster more convenient services, including dental access centres and Walk in Centres.
	(6) Funding awarded from the HM Treasury Invest to Save Budget, rounds one and two.
	(7) Allocation from the Reserve made in December 1999 to help meet cost of generic drugs (£90m) and clinical negligence claims (£44m).
	
		Table B Additional Funds made available to the NHS in Wales since 1 May 1997
		
			  1997-98 £m 1998-99 £m 1999-2000 £m 2000-01 £m 2001-02 £m 
			 Winter Pressures(1) 10 13 0 
			 General Increase for NHS(2)  60 
			 Waiting Lists(3)  25 
			 Comprehensive Spending Review(4)   175 345 510 
			 HM Treasury Capital Modernisation Fund(5)   6 13 15 
			 Invest to Save(6)2 
			 General Improvements in Health(7)   8 
		
	
	(1) Additional money for 1997-98 announced by Win Griffiths 22 October 1997.
	Additional money for 1998-99 announced by Win Griffiths 3 November 1998.
	(2)Announced by Ron Davies 2 July 1997.
	(3)Announced by Win Griffiths 18 March 1998.
	(4)Announced by Win Griffiths 16 July 1998. Increase in NHS funding each year over the 1997 Public Expenditure Survey baselines.
	(5)Additions from the HM Treasury Capital Modernisation Fund announced on 18 May 1999 and 1 December 1999.
	(6)Funding awarded from the HM Treasury Invest to Save Budget as announced on 1 December 1999.
	(7)Addition from Treasury reserve in December 1999 will be used to respond to priorities of the Assembly Health and Social Services Committee as announced by the Welsh Assembly Secretary for Finance, Edwina Hart, on 1 December 1999.
	
		Table C Additional Funds made available to the NHS in Scotland since 1 May 1997
		
			   
			  1997-98 1998-99 1999-2000 2000-01 2001-02 
			  £m £m £m £m £m 
			 Winter Pressures(1) 17 22 
			 General Increase for NHS(2)  107 
			 Waiting Lists(3)  44 
			 Comprehensive Spending Review(4   300 590 910 
			 HM Treasury Capital Modernisation Fund(5)   10 14 17 
			 Intensive care and high dependency beds and  local priorities(6)   14 
		
	
	(1) Additional funds for (i) 1997-98 announced in October 1997 (ii) 1998-99 announced in November 1998.
	(2) Announced in July 1997 Budget.
	(3) Announced in March 1998 Budget.
	(4) Announced in July 1998. Increase in NHS funding each year over the 1997 Public Expenditure Survey baselines.
	(5) Funds awarded for A&E Modernisation, tele-medicine, electronic prescribing, NHS Direct Scotland, minimal invasive cancer work and cancer treatment equipment.
	(6) Announced in February 2000 to spend on intensive care and high dependency beds and for local priorities.
	
		Table D Additional Funds made available to the NHS in Northern Ireland since 1 May 1997
		
			  1997-98 1998-99 1999-2000 2000-01 2001-02 
			  £m £m £m £m £m 
			 Winter Pressures 18 6 9   
			 General Increase for NHS  36
			 Waiting Lists  13
			 Comprehensive Spending Review   128 251 353 
			 HM Treasury Capital Modernisation Fund   3 3 5 
			 Clinical Negligence   4   
		
	
	In addition to funds provided directly/centrally from HM Treasury, the above also include local additions made available from reallocations permissible within the Northern Ireland Block.